Sensuous scents

Declaration d'Un Soir Cartier for men (Rs 5000 / 50 ml): Be wary and use this heady scent in small quantities. Cartier’s in-house perfumer Mathilde Laurent revealed that this fragrance was created to make the heart beat faster and to drive men to speak their minds; it could loosen your tongue faster than a few tequila shots. This is a modern version of one of Cartier’s best-selling scents ‘Declaration’ and the bottle cap is reminiscent of the crown of one of Cartier’s classic timepieces. A strong presence of rose is balanced with a spicy mix that includes pepper and nutmeg.

Uomo Trussardi (Rs 4450 / 100 ml): You might not be able to find the swagger or sex appeal of the quintessential Italian alpha male ovenight but a signature Italian scent can’t hurt your chances. Launched in 2011 to coincide with this fashion house’s centenary and inspired by their very masculine scent from the Eighties, the all-black bottle with a touch of gold captures some of the brand’s understated elegance.

FCUK Friction for him (Rs 3150 /100 ml): FCUK has never shied away from bold fragrances and the duo of Friction scents (For Him and for her) is no exception. Crafted by perfumer Irina Burkalova this cunningly named scent is unabashedly sensual and passionate. The provocative outer packaging with Lindsay Lohan is a good indicator of what’s ‘inside the box’, while the innovative yet minimalist bottle is a showstopper. The fragrance combines a potent mix of notes that include fresh lavender, black coconut, cardamom, rum accord, leather and magnetic musk.

Van Cleef and Arpels – Midnight in Paris (Rs 3900 / 75 ml): If you like playing the enigmatic romantic this is one scent that might complement your style. Inspired by a date under the stars of a Parisian sky, perfumers Domitille Bertier and Oliver Polge created a truly mysterious fragrance for this legendary French jewellery house. The dark blue flacon with stars houses a scent with exotic notes like Lapsang Souchang tea, lily of the valley, leather and a hint of rosemary.

Bleu de Chanel (Rs 3650 / 50 ml): Jacque Polge the nose behind some of Chanel’s iconic scents crafted this scent for the modern male that doesn’t fit into any watertight compartment and is woody and aquatic in the same breath. This complex yet easy to wear scent brings together fresh notes like grapefruit and lemon and intense notes like pink pepper, incense and vetiver.